UW-Stout 66, UW-Oshkosh 63
OSHKOSH (January 31, 2009) - For the third consecutive game, Julia Hirssig (Jr, Rochester, Minn) scored more than 25 points, but her final three points against UW-Oshkosh proved to be the most crucial as the Blue Devils pulled out a 66-63 win over the Titans at Kolf Sports Center Saturday.
In a back-and-forth contest, Hirssig hit what would prove to be the game-winning basket with two seconds left to break a 63-63 tie, then hit a free throw for the win.
Hirssig finished the night with 26 points. She had scored 26 points two games ago and 37 points in her last outing and opened this contest with the first points of the game.
But the Titans (6-14, 1-10) refused to be rolled over like the last time the teams met in an 80-57 Stout win in Menomonie in December. Oshkosh carried the lead throughout much of the first half, with six tied scores. It was much of the same in the second half, this time with seven tied scores.
Even after Charlee Edwards (Sr, Danbury) hit a 3-pointer with a minute left to give Stout (11-8, 6-4) a 63-60 lead, the Titans answered back with a hoop and a free throw by Laura Ebbens to tie the game. The Blue Devils missed one opportunity, but Lindsey Gerber (Sr, Exeland) grabbed the rebound as Stout worked the ball around. Gerber found Hirssig under the basket for the game-winning shot.
Stout, which shot 36.1 percent (22-61) from the floor, were led by the game-high points of Hirssig. Megan Maslowski (Jr, Marshfield) and Danielle DeWitt (Jr, Green Bay) each scored 10 points. Kim Stokke (Jr, Menomonie) pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds and Gerber had eight assists.
For the Titans, Michelle Boeder scored 14 points. Shelby Churchill added 13 points, and Erin Baganz and Kelsey Myklebust each pitched in 12 points. The Titans shot 37.9 percent (22-58). Both teams made 16 free throws. Stout connected on six 3-pointers, while the Titans made three.
Stout will be at UW-Stevens Point, Wednesday, Feb. 4, and at UW-Whitewater, Saturday, Feb. 11.
